Best Buy Charges Extra $100 for Unactivated iPhone X, Says Customers 'Want This Flexibility'

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Posted October 28, 2017 at 3:08am by iClarified · 18610 views

Best Buy is charging customers an extra $100 for the ability to purchase an 'unactivated' iPhone X.

The absurd $100 price gouging fee appears to give customers the privilege of being able to purchase a full price iPhone without needing a plan or an account with a carrier. You may want to do this if you'd prefer the Qualcomm modem which historically has been available on the Verizon model; rather than the Intel modem.

Here's the statement from Best Buy provided to Bloomberg:

“Our prices reflect the fact that no matter a customer’s desired plan or carrier, or whether a customer is on a business or personal plan, they are able to get a phone the way they want at Best Buy,” Danielle Schumann, a company spokeswoman, said in an email. “Our customers have told us they want this flexibility and sometimes that has a cost.”

Apple declined to comment on Best Buy's pricing but you can send the company some feedback here.

If you've talked to Best Buy about this $100 markup, let us know their explanation in the comments!

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Best Buy Charges Extra $100 for Unactivated iPhone X, Says Customers 'Want This Flexibility'

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Bluedice - October 30, 2017 at 11:17am

i dunno how's working in states, but in EU, if u bought a phone at full price without any plan, the carrier to which the phone is bound, is obliged to unlock u'r phone free of charge. unlikely, if the price u paid is even a cent less than full price, then a charge for unlocking is made by the carrier. but that will be voided after u'r present contract (plan) ends.

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sarah ackman - October 29, 2017 at 4:14pm

bbyguy is right. I went into 2 stores this week and was sent to apple to buy my unlocked phone. i guess they stopped doing it on some phones a few years back. i would gladly pay 100 extra if they could still.

BBYguy995 - October 29, 2017 at 1:02am

I am not sure what stores or corporate contact verified this. Best buy outlet offers up to a 6s unlocked; but as inventory is provided by the carrier, an unactivated or unlocked new Iphone wont process in the POS system.

Pauliep - October 29, 2017 at 3:10am

You clearly don't know your bestbuy, they want your money no matter what.

BBYguy995 - October 29, 2017 at 4:45am

After 17 years... i have a decent grasp of how the company works and as to what procedures work in our system. If you go to our website and attempt to purchase a non-activated iphone x; it wont process. That component isnt my opinion, but verifiable to replicate. No need to be rude... accuracy is king.

Vik - October 28, 2017 at 4:56pm

This isn’t even new news. They’ve been doing this since the first time they sold iPhones inactivated.

Abel - October 28, 2017 at 1:39pm

They've always done that with iPhones. Idk why people are just noticing now. That's why you buy direct from Apple if you want the legit price. That's what I've always done

Justabrake - October 28, 2017 at 12:35pm

It’s a better deal then ebay sellers are asking

Thefirst1 - October 28, 2017 at 9:42am

That's called Unlocked and the FCC ruled that carriers are required to unlock phones that are paid in full. You're getting duped if you fall for this. First I thought this actually meant they would have employees setup devices in store and charge if you wanted to setup on your own. Head still spinning..

Raas al Ghul - October 28, 2017 at 3:56am

Well at least they offer this to people that want it.